Modeling a Love of Learning

Three cheers for the commitment of AISC educators to their professional growth and learning.  Since the start of the school year, 85 teachers, TAs and administrators have attended professional learning sessions both on campus with consultants or offsite at conferences. In this week's blog, a few of our colleagues share with us their experiences and reflections.  When you attend a professional learning session, please send me a brief reflection that I can share with the rest of the staff.  It is a great way for all of us to keep connected.

Don't forget to keep your own professional learning transcript up to date.  You can access the form on Moodle anytime.  Just make a copy and add any professional learning sessions that you attend.  When it is time for your teacher licensure recertification, just send me an email with the completed transcript attached and I will have it printed on school letterhead with the official school seal.  This has met almost everyone's recertification requirements to date.  Also, remember to check our Moodle Professional Learning and PG&E page regularly for upcoming workshops and conferences.  ASB is hosting their ASB Unplugged in February 2016 - check it out. They have sessions scheduled that will cover Digital Storytelling, Project-Based Learning, Play and Games-Based Learning, Data Visualization, Emerging Technologies, Measurement and Research, Maker, Open Education, Creativity and Visual Literacy.

Professional Learning Reflections 

Next Frontier Inclusion: Professional Conversations 

Transformational Learning for All - 

by: Becky Thomas

The Next Frontier Inclusion (NFI) believes in equity and excellence in education. The NFI has adopted the definition of inclusive schools that was developed at the International School of Brussels: "Inclusive Schools are schools that successfully serve a managed number of students representing the full range of learning differences that vary from mild, moderate, and intensive needs and the exceptionally able."

November 1-3, 2015 at the Hong Kong Academy, more than 100 teachers from around the world attended The NFI's Professional Conversations. I was proud to represent AISC at this conference.The conversations that took place solidified the belief that high quality education is a basic human right of all children. We saw the importance of schools redefining education to be inclusive of students who learn differently at different rates. When children requiring learning support are included the education of all children is enhanced.

My biggest take-away from this conference was that every member of a school community needs to believe and be invested in an inclusive school setting; each member needs to play their part for a successful Inclusion Program.

Effective Feedback in Elementary Literacy with Cheza Al-Kudmani - by: Andrea Morris

I attended the NESA Fall Training Institute for an amazing two day session by Literacy guru Cheza Al-Kudmani in providing effective feedback in Elementary Literacy. The session was well attended by at least thirty teacher leaders and coaches in Literacy from around the region. Over the two days, Cheza worked with participants in the art of conferring during the Writers Workshop. We discussed different types of teaching methods and conference styles to provide feedback to students. It was a practical and helpful learning experience, in that we created and used a number of meaningful tools to analyze student writing samples. Being able to dialogue and share with other educators made it a rich and wonderful professional learning opportunity, one in which I look forward to sharing with colleagues here at AISC.

NESA Fall Training: WIDA Symposium

EAL Coordinators Karen Sumaryono and Paula Peters-Frampton attended the WIDA Symposium at NESA’s fall training at the American School of Dubai on Nov. 5-6.

This was an opportunity to preview new WIDA instructional tools and to network with other area international schools who use the WIDA Standards Framework to improve academic English language instruction and assessment. The workshops were facilitated by WIDA’s International Director Jon Nordmeyer and Director of Academic Language and Literacy Initiatives Dr. Mariana Castro.

Paula and Karen were asked to give a presentation on how AISC has used WIDA tools and developed systems to use student data to drive instruction. A Dubai Symposium Moodle Page was introduced for ongoing sharing of resources and dialogue among participants.

Other highlights included networking with the secondary EAL team from the American Embassy School in New Delhi, getting clarity on uses of WIDA resources, and and getting an inside look at what’s coming next from WIDA international.

MINI NESA IS COMING...

And finally, a huge thank you to everyone who is presenting at our Mini NESA this year. We look forward to learning from all of you. Just a reminder of the sessions we will be offering at our Early Release Wednesday on December 2nd.

BE MINDFUL 

This workshop highlights practices from Mindfulness, Visible Thinking and Adaptive School initiatives. The practices help learners increase skills in concentration and focus on learning tasks, using techniques like chanting, meditation, breathing, reflective dialogue, and yoga asana. The routines boost awareness of physical, mental and emotional balance and improve classroom environments.

Strand: Innovation/Enhancing Learning

Target Audience: Grades PK-12

CONSTRUCTING MEANING, THINKING VISIBLY: ELLs IN THE INCLUSIVE CONSTRUCTIVIST CLASSROOM

Often the richest learning moments in a lesson are opportunities in which students construct meaning by analyzing their own thinking. Presenters will facilitate conversations about how we can best support cognitive tasks for English Language Learners. Attendees will practice and critique approaches to supporting thinking in an inclusive classroom.

Strands: Innovation/Enhancing Learning, Inclusive Schools

Target Audience: Grades K-12 

DEVELOPING ACADEMIC DISCUSSION IN THE CLASSROOM 

How might the developing and using of 'conversational moves' in classroom discussions/seminars lead to increased learning, critical thinking, and the deepening of understanding? This workshop will model conversational moves, share student feedback techniques and address the importance of developing academic conversations.  

Strand: Innovation/Enhancing learning 

Target Audience: Grades 5-12

FLOW: ENERGIZED FOCUS IN THE CLASSROOM

Named by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, the concept of 'flow' is referenced across a variety of fields. It is the feeling of being fully immersed and energized in the process of an activity. This workshop demonstrates a model for achieving this, helping to individualize and personalize learning in Elementary.

Strands: Instructional Coaching, Innovation/Enhancing learning, Inclusive Schools.

Target Audience: Grades K-5

I WISH I COULD SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE

How are languages learned? How has second language acquisition theory evolved? An influential theory regarding language evolution is that humans have evolved a Language Acquisition Device. Let’s explore its applications in learning. If you ever thought, "I wish I could speak another language," then this is your opportunity. 

Strand: Innovation/Enhancing Learning

Target Audience: Grades PK-12

MEET BEEBOT THE ROBOT: INCORPORATING CODING INTO EXISTING CURRICULUM

BeeBot is a simple robot that teaches early learners how to code. In this workshop, audience members will learn the basic coding for the BeeBot, participate in activities and games, and learn to incorporate this robot into their already existing curriculum. Come see how gamification with BeeBot can be fun!

Strand: Innovation/Enhancing Learning

Target Audience: Grades PK-2

MERGING FIRST LEGO LEAGUE CORE VALUES WITH STEM CHALLENGES TO BUILD CLASSROOM COMMUNITY

In this workshop, we will cover the First Lego League Core Values, participate in a few challenges that can be immediately implemented into classroom practices, and reflect on how both can help build integrity, cooperation, inclusion, discovery, group identity and respect with your students.  

Strands: Next Generation Science Standards, Inclusive Schools 

Target Audience: Grades K-12

THE MINDFUL EDUCATOR: INCREASE PROFESSIONAL EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH MINDFULNESS

Are your days filled with endless lists of dizzying commitments? Does this make you feel stressed or fatigued? If so, explore how practicing mindfulness for less than 15 minutes a day can help you slow down, breathe and find new energy to manage your busy life with joy and laughter.

Strand: Innovation/Enhancing Learning

Target Audience: Grades PK-12

OUT OF EDEN, OUT OF CHENNAI: EXTENDING LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM 

Are you wondering how to make the most of technology in your class? Forget about flashy projects that take away valuable learning time. Instead, facilitate globally-connected learning experiences that will provide your students with engaging tasks and an authentic audience, while fostering critical thinking, digital citizenship, and literacy/communication skills. 

Strand: Innovation/Enhancing Learning

Target Audience: Grades 4-12

TAPPING INTO DIVERSITY: HARNESSING THE POWER OF MULTIPLE LANGUAGES IN THE CLASSROOM

This workshop posits that in today’s diverse & global classrooms, multi-lingualism is an asset. Creating opportunities for students to use multiple languages facilitates meaningful engagement with curriculum and affirms equal and intrinsic value of all students. Participants will examine strategies that draw upon multiple languages for content and language instruction.

Strand: Inclusive Schools

Target Audience: Grades K-8